Granddaddy...

James William Elwell.....known by most as “Billy” or “Elwell”…..I’ve always called him “Granddaddy.” On my third birthday (I believe), he bought a baby blue GMC pickup with a white "camper shell". That old pickup truck carries so many memories. I can still remember the smell of Levi Garrett Chewing Tobacco in the cab and the smell of fishing supplies in the back. Every few weeks, my family would go down to Matagorda, TX to our “riverhouse” and fish under the lights late into the night, wakeup early and fish on the Colorado River or Matagorda Bay, and spend some time down at the beach. I’ve got to tell you, the man loved to fish and was a great fisherman. He knew where to fish and always brought in the most amazing catches. One of my favorite memories is when I must have been around 11 years old (give or take a year or two). We had been out fishing for a while and nobody was really catching anything to write home about. Well, Granddaddy saw my cork bobbing a little and told me to keep an eye on it, but do not start reeling in (when Granddaddy talks fishing….you listen)! Moments later, my cork goes under for good. I spend the next few minutes reeling in a humongous flounder (yes I said humongous....and no, it is not Ariel's friend in 'The Little Mermaid'). I was so proud of my catch…..and there Granddaddy was smiling away.

While in Matagorda, we (me, my sister, and my cousins) used to ride in the back of the truck while “Granddaddy” would drive. We’d go over these hills that made you feel like you were on a roller coaster ride (it was always fun to see who would “lose their stomach”). He loved driving us over those hills.

Right about now, you’re probably thinking, this man likes to fish and make kids lose their stomach…….what a weirdo! Well, this man made a point to come out to many of my baseball games, taught me the right way to play solitaire, counseled me about career decisions, told me that I better “hang on to that girl (Bethany), she’s a keeper” (yes, he often talked in “fishing” terms). The one thing that still gets to me today is that six months prior to Bethany and I getting married, my Granddaddy fell off the ladder in his shop. The doctor said this fall should have killed a man his age….I guess they don’t know my Granddaddy! The fall did some damage, but a month or so later he determined that it wasn’t going to keep him from walking in our wedding! On May 31, 2003, I saw my Granddaddy walk down the aisle (on his own) and watch his grandson marry that “keeper” (even though she is a little short……I’m probably going to get hit for that one).


Last Monday afternoon, I called my sister to shoot the breeze….she tells me that Mom is over at Nanny and Granddaddy’s….and Granddaddy isn’t doing very well (he hasn’t done “well” in a while). Little secret most don’t know about me….I hate hearing bad news about anyone’s health (especially my Granddaddy’s). When I hung up the phone, the country station I was listening to was playing a Kenny Chesney song on the radio…..it brought back memories of an old Kenny Chesney song that I fell in love with before he became “popular” called “Grandpa Told Me So.” The chorus always gets to me a little….

He said life is made for you to live
The best love is the love that you give
There’ll be times when you wanna hold on but you gotta let go
And I live by those words cause grandpa told me so

For over thirty-one years of my time on earth, my Granddaddy has been a strong influence in almost every decision I make. There are so many events in my life that he has been involved in (and I remember almost every one of them like it was yesterday). I know I will never let go of those memories…they are a big reason I am the man I am today.

…..Everytime I see my Granddaddy, his first words are “Whadya say Chris?” I say you’ll never understand the mark you made on this man’s life and I love you more than you will ever know!